I rarely go back and tally all I completed over the past year. My perpetual journal has records noted when I finish a project so I can go back anytime I wish to review my sewing progress. However, I’m usually so absorbed in the forward movement of the coming year’s sewing & activities that by Read More...
Recognizing Excellent Fit with the Untrained Eye
“WOW! That costume is amazing!!” I said out loud, wiping the drool from my keyboard. I don’t know if you’ve come across Merja’s Instagram or her Blogger site, but she is a superbly talented costumer. I think what attracts me most to Merja’s work is the incredible fitting job. Truly stunning! With her projects it’s Read More...
How to Use a Fabric Conversion Chart
Ever find a beautiful fabric and it’s a wide 60″ but your pattern only lists yardage amounts for using 45″ fabric? Yeah, me too. It happens often. And what about if it’s reversed – a pattern requiring 60″ fabric but you have THE material for the project in 40″? Well… that gets more complicated. You’d Read More...
Identifying Which Way is Up on a Corset Busk
Your corset order has arrived. You rip open that box or cardboard priority mail envelope and out you pull beautiful white bones. And there’s the busk too. How pretty it looks! You examine it’s little bumps attached firmly to the steel bone. The knobs that easily fit through the rounded loops. You figure out how Read More...
Top 10 Resource Books for Your Sewing Library
Ahh… books. Those friends for life. And no matter how long you’ve been sewing, you probably have a few of these friends around. Some are undoubtedly better than others. A few belong in the Goodwill donation stack. Others you would grab in case of fire. While there are dozens of really good books on sewing Read More...
Building a Dream Regency Wardrobe
Have you ever dreamed of opening up your closet and it’s packed with dresses from another time? Of course you have or you wouldn’t be here reading! Isn’t it fun to dream of silk dresses, wool coats and bonnets? To think of afternoon tea and reading Pride & Prejudice as a contemporary novel? So Read More...
The 1871 Harvest Grape Bustle Dress
Hooray for quick bustle dresses! My newest completed (or nearly completed) historical costume is an easy bustle dress made while teaching the online Victorian Bustle Day Dress class. I kept the design pretty basic as I needed something I could actually finish in about six weeks. Below is the fashion plate I used for inspiration. Read More...
How to Make Ribbon Bows for Victorian Costumes
I’ve had quite a lot of costumers ask me recently about making bows for bustle dresses. Since bows are THE Victorian trim this tutorial will work for most 19th century garments. This video tutorial will show you how to make one up quickly. Read More...